already too long delayed, to the veterans who yielded their lives on the altar of their country's freedom. Let us, from this time forth, guard the sacred spot with zealous care, and leave it as a monument of love and veneration to our children and our children's children.

Mr. Speaker, I speak with feeling on this subject. This historic ground is in view of my own humble home at the foot of the Cornwall Mountains. Living as I do within rifle-range of the old encampment, it is but natural I should feel the impulse and influence of these grand associations. Upon the farm I till I have upturned with the plow cannon-balls which were discharged a century ago. The road which fronts my residence is the same old Revolutionary road over which the victorious Army marched on its way from Yorktown to New Windsor. But a mile distant, on the mountain side, still flows the "Continental Spring," where the Army halted to quench its thirst. Surrounded by such associations I am constantly reminded of the men of the days gone by. I glory in their deeds. I am moved by the same sentiment which Sallust says actuated Quintus Maximus and Publius Scipio: Cum majorum imagines intuerentur, vehementissime sibi animum ad virtutem accendi: "When they beheld the images of their ancestors, their minds were strongly incited to deeds of honor."

I now propose, Mr. Speaker, to consider another event occurring at this place in 1783, which will come in for its share of attention during the centennial ceremonies of next year. I refer to the disbandment of the Army. This occurred practically by furloughs immediately following the proclamation of April 19. Under this order regiments and battalions in whole bodies left the encampment until the 22d of June, when, by Washington's order, the remainder, consisting of short-term men and numbering less than one thousand, were marched to West Point, and the encampment broken up. The buildings were soon after sold by auction, and finally Washington followed on the 18th of August. Rapid as was this disintegration, it was not the less filled with touching incidents. Tradition tells us that Washington addressed his old and faithful guard at headquarters and parted with them in tears on the 9th of June. Drawn from the regiments by detail for that service, they were furloughed with their commands, and were not again on duty. Other accounts come to us more immediately from the encampment proper. Although not a

personal witness, Dr. Thacher's statement is regarded as of authority in his description of some of the parting scenes. He writes:

of

No description would be adequate to the painful circumstances of the parting.

* * Both officers and soldiers, long unaccustomed to the affairs of private life, turned loose on the world to starve and to become the prey to vulture speculators. Never can that melancholy day be forgotten when friends, companions for seven long years in joy and in sorrow, were torn asunder without the hope of ever meeting again and with prospects of a miserable subsistence in future.

Major North, who was a participant, says:

The inmates of the same tent or hut for seven long years grasped each other's hands in silent agony, to go, they knew not whither. All recollection of the art to thrive by civil occupation lost, or to the youthful never known; their hardearned military knowledge worse than useless; and with their badge of brotherhood, a mark at which to point the finger of suspicion—ignoble, vile suspicion !— to be cast out on a world long since by them forgotten; severed from friends and all the joys and griefs which soldiers feel! Griefs, while hope remained; when shared by numbers, almost joy! To go in silence and alone and poor and hopeless, it was too hard! On that sad day, how many hearts were wrung! I saw it all, nor will the scene be ever blurred or blotted from my view.

Baron Steuben's letter, recently published in Kapp's life of that illustrious general, is also in testimony, and may be referred to with profit. It may be added that the Army was never re-assembled. Those on furlough were discharged at their homes, under proclamation of Congress of October 18. A small detachment remained in garrison at West Point and other posts, but beyond these the Army of the Revolution had, long prior to November 3, the day fixed for the final termination of its period of service, "passed from mortal sight into immortal history."

It has been suggested that making the appropriation asked for by this resolution will be establishing a bad precedent; that the Treasury will be called upon in the future for numerous projects of a kindred nature. My answer to that is, the events now about to be commemorated were the closing events of the Revolution, and furnish the last opportunity for a centennial celebration until another hundred years have rolled by. My further answer is, the precedent, whether good or bad, has been too frequently made in favor of such appropriations to be now departed from.

The first instance will be found in the action of the Continental Congress, away back in 1776, when $300 were voted for a monument